Chapter Eleven: Does Life Continue?
The ground level had a ding bouncing off the walls in the hall, as an emerging group walked off one of its many elevators. Adults with brief cases, stacks of paper, towels, or reading just a really good book, separated and walked into different sections of the building. A woman sitting in the middle of the front desk typed desperately trying to hurry with the evening schedules. She was a small framed young woman in her 20's that wore her curly hair in a clip and glasses. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a statue looking man walking past the desk. She looked up and with her index finger, pushed back her glasses. The woman smiled just in time for the man to look up from his watch.
"You off for the night?"
The man nodded as he came closer to her. He stopped at the desk and sat his brief case on the flat surface. It was then, that the woman took a good look at the man. She smiled. He had coal black hair and a tan complection that blending in so well that his azure eyes were clearing seen. He was a pretty good size man, with nice muscular structure..or so she could tell with his white jacket over his suit.
"I got some papers to fill out. I might have to come in early and check on a patient of mine."
The woman smiled and motioned to her computer. She swung her rolling chair to the other side of the front desk closer to the man.
"I got some papers myself to do before the shift ends. Are we still on for the weekend?"
"Wouldn't miss it for the world, Cindy."
The woman blushed and looked up at the man under her eye lashes. She always loved it when he spoke her name. She slipped him a sheet of paper and he indiscreetly took it and placed it in his pocket without even giving it a glance.
"That's your new apartment number?"
"Yup. Make sure you take a left turn all the way up to Highway 61, then you take a right. Then it's in point blank from there."
"Good. I'll see you tomorrow, Cindy."
"Alright. Have a good night, Dr. Chiba."
The dark headed man winked and then picked up his brief case. He moved swiftly through the many people passing at ground level. Yet, another day had passed slowly for Darien Chiba. He finally made it through the automatic doors, squinting as the light from the setting sun met his gaze. He raised an arm to his face to shield his eyes from the rays. Darien lowered his head to his chest to avoid the sun and descended down the stairs of the hospital.
As he got nearer to the parking lot, he pulled out his keys and pressed a button. A beeping sound went off suddenly and then ended with him near the car. He opened the driver's door, threw his brief case in. then got in himself. He started the engine and waited a moment to let it warm up. Darien sighed and leaned his head back. It had been a long day for him and he wanted it to end soon. As he thought this, he reminded himself that as soon as this day had ended..another one would start. He sat up straight and headed home.
Darien's "home" consisted of a cramped apartment building surrounded my fighting couples, crying children, and the music of today's teenage rap. It could drive any normal person crazy, but Darien was an exception. He taught himself that these noises and annoyances were better than any quiet peaceful place. Actually, to think of it...ANYTHING was better than the quiet life. That's another thing that Darien taught himself. He learned to stand all the noisy places so that he couldn't let his mind wonder. Letting his mind think of unnecessary things could lead to unpleasant hangovers for days, which nearly cost him his college education. Luckily he had friends that loved him and took care of him. Helped him move on with the past.
Darien rattled his keys in his hand to find the right one for his apartment. He unlocked several locks on his door and opened it wide. By that time another door opened from down the hall and an elderly overweighted woman came running out her door.
"DARIEN! YOUHOOO! DARIEN CAN YOU SPARE A MINUTE OF YOUR TIME?"
Darien closed his eyes and cursed under his breath. The woman jiggled her way over to him. She was in a multi-colored cotton robe and fluffy house shoes. Her long white hair was in rollers on top of her head and large glasses graced her face. The woman wasn't exactly wrinklely, but showed in some places. Her chest sagged, Darien swore, as low as to the ground. He turned away every time she ran to him. Her thighs and bottom was as large as a few watermelons put together and up close you could see her blue veins popping out of her skin. When she would call out, it was loud and squeaky. She would screech if she ever had to yell. Darien shuddered at the last time she had yelled for him. His ears still had a ring in them ever time he hears her calling out. Darien sighed and turned around with a big fat fake smile plastered on his face.
"Oh, Darien I am sooooo glad you are home."
"Hello Mrs. White. Did you need me?"
"Why yes..yes I do. You see I am having problems breathing. I am wondering if you could check me out. I really do hate to bother you..its just that my husband..Marty..you remember Marty right?..Well he is worried about me..and I was wondering if you could come over for only a few minutes and examine me. Oh please Darien..I would appreciate it.."
"Uhh.." Darien scratched his head and tried to come up with something. It seemed as if Mrs. White was always complaining about something. She uses her husband's concerns for benefits. Darien knew that Marty White could care less about his wife. He usually sat in front of the t.v. drinking a beer and smoking for most of the day. Suddenly the phone from inside rang. Darien shot a quick prayer up towards Heaven and looked back at Mrs. White.
"I've got to get that. I will be over there when I can Mrs. White. I am sure you are perfectly alright though. Last time I checked you were..just drink lots of fluids..."
Darien slipped his way in to his apartment and slammed the door shut before she had time to respond. He bolted the door and sighed. He sat his brief case down and hung up his white jacket. As he walked to the phone, he loosened his tie and rolled up his sleeves. It was too late to answer the phone, so he allowed the answer machine get it.
He walked to the back, where his bed room lay ahead. He took off his shoes and tie. Checking the clock, it had already turned 7 and dinner time for him. He unbuttoned his white shirt and slung it to the hamper. Darien shuffled to the bathroom and began his bath water. He decided that it a good night to relax and placed bubbles in the water. He closed the door and thought it would be a good idea to wait after his bath then check his messages.
After about an hour, Darien stepped out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist and another one on his shoulders. He was drying out his hair and cleaning out all the water in his ears. He walked lazily to his answer machine and then back to his bedroom.
"You have five new messages: Message One: Hey Darien, it's Lita. I was hoping to catch you at home. I guess you had to work today. I was just calling to check on how you were holding up. Call me back. Laterz."
"Message Two: Yo Darien is Andrew. How you've been doin' man? I don't get to talk to you that much since you left. Call me any time dude. "
"Message Three: Ohhhh Darrrriiiiiieeeennnn...hehe..its Mina! Look can't talk long. I can't believe I got this movie gig..I AM SO EXCITED. Anyways..has Rei called lately? I've been trying to get a hold of her. She says that something is up. Oh..how you been holding up lately?"
Darien raised an eye brow. Why do they keep asking how I'm doing? He shook his head and moved to the kitchen. He started to make some hot chocolate. He grabbed some chocolate chip cookies and put them on a plate. Mina was still going on and on about her new movie that was being produced in California. Finally the answer machine cut her off and Ami came on.
"Hello Darien...or should I said Doctor D. Chiba? I looked you up. I am so happy that you found work in New York. Listen, I will be there in a few days. I was wondering if we could get together? I know it is unexpected..but there are some new developments going on. I want to discuss some stuff and get your point of view on it. Well I should get going..Greg is expecting me at the resturant in a half hour. Hope to see you soon...Oh..I forgot to ask...how have you been lately?"
Darien sighed and shook his head. He headed back to his bedroom while his milk was boiling. He got up to his boxers and tank top before he heard Rei's voice. She must've been the last to call. Darien thought to himself. He smiled when he heard her voice. She was always held an aggressive and annoyed tone. He could hear Chad in the background and laughed lowly. No wonder she sounded so annoyed. Rei went on about what was up in Japan since she was the only one that stayed. Six years ago, the pain was too much for everyone to keep and they all went their seperate ways. They talked regularly and avoided the subject of their hurt. Although on some occations it just popped up. Lita moved to France and began her own cafe/florist shop. Ami was the next to go. She got her medical degree after finishing college. She is working in Washington D.C. Last time Darien check it was with the F.B.I. She wanted to be in on the happenings around the world. Andrew married Reika and moved with her to somewhere in Africa. They are as happy as can be. He sends pictures of their little boy when they can. Mina started her acting career by auditioning in the Finals for that Pop Idol contest. The judges liked her work and introduced her to some directors. She is now on her third movie. Darien has all her movies, C.D.'s, and anything else she comes out with. As for himself...it was harder to leave. Him and Rei had gotten close enough to consider the other as their best friend. She was the one that helped him move on. Then he got a job offer a couple of months back for New York. He know works for NYHU Center. He works with little children now. Rei was the only one that knew she couldn't ever leave Japan. It was the only place she felt comfortable in. Everyone agreed with her when she chose to stay. When her grandfather passed away last year, she took control of the place. The Cherry Hill Temple is as popular as its ever been.
Darien walked down the hall of his apartment back in to the kitchen. He turned off the fire and poured the hot milk into a mug, then sturred in the coco mix. Darien was about to sit down, but then the Rei's last sentence caught his attention.
"...I know its been hard on all of, Darien. How have you been? Is everything going well?..I hope it is. I know that you must miss her around this time of year..."
Darien froze, every part of him stood still. Everything except for his beat heart, of course. It pounded at his chest and his breath caught as she continues. He could sense the hurt..the pain.. the total emptiness she was pouring into her words. He knew because he felt the same way whenever any one mentioned...her...
"...I don't mean to waist your time...I just wanted to call to see how you were doing. Do you know when you will be arriving back? I was hoping to get everyone together in a few weeks..since..well..you know...it is her anniversary...it's been almost seven years. sighs I'm sorry...I just wanted to hear your voice again. Someone other than.. Chad breaks something in the background and Rei sighs in frustration...other than bone head here. Call me back. Bye Darien..."
Darien was still in place, only know he leaned over the small round table for support. Almost seven years...in a few weeks it would have been seven years since...Darien crumbled to his chair, his legs to weak to hold him. Is that why everyone was calling him now? To check and see if he was doing better. They had all seen how he was like after...the event...he was a mess. He was always in his apartment. Never attended school. Drank all the time. He even had his driver's license taken away for two years because he was caught speeding on the free way while intoxicated.
Squeezing his eyes shut, he attempted to rid himself of those memories. That was all in the past. He had to move on. Darien released a long breath, not even realizing he was holding his it all the way through that last part of Rei.
"...Serenity...Serena...my bunny..."
He vowed he would never cry over someone. Not even if he loved them..he would never cry. But suddenly he realized that it didn't matter any more. And in that moment, Darien started to weep over Serena for the first time in a long while. After a long time he got up and picked up the phone. He called Cindy and gently canceled their date for the weekend. He couldn't face her with this still wounded heart. He needed to get passed loving Serena before he could be with a girl like Cindy.
